On this page you will find a list of resources on the Civil War. This list is by no way complete. More is written about the Civil War than any other event in American History. Please be sure that you check and cite your sources on the last page of your presentation.
The American Civil War The site contains balanced, substantive coverage of the Civil War, including its causes, famous battles, and leaders. Great place to find the basics.
The American Civil War Homepage Created by the University of Tennessee.
This Web site provides a link to excellent primary materials, including documentary records from the Congressional Globe featuring the proceedings of the U.S. Congress from 1833-73. A subject index makes it easy to access a whole range of issues that were the subject of either Senate or House debates in both the pre and post Civil War period. The documents are reproductions of the actual pages, so the reading may be slow going. This site also has a rich Civil War music section, providing the lyrics to many popular tunes of that period, along with various other primary sources—letters, regimental histories, and biographies. One section allows the user to access documentary information by state, which would be useful for teachers or students with a regional interest.
The Civil War at the Smithsonian Produced by the National Portrait Gallery, this site has an extensive image collection of Civil War artifacts. With background information included, the visitor can find anything from Abraham Lincoln’s beaver top hat to examples of uniforms and weapons, or even Confederate postage stamps. Featured also is an impressive array of portraiture, sculptures, and photographs.
Civil War Treasures(From the New York Historical Society) The images of this digital collection are from the New York Historical Society’s archive of the Civil War. It includes recruiting posters, stereographic views, photography showing the war’s impact on both sides, and drawings and writings by everyday soldiers. The Civil War recruiting poster collection, which provides such a flavor of this Civil War communications medium, is well worth the visit to this site by teachers and students alike. The soldier’s letters are photographic with no accompanying typed text, so while very authentic, they are sometimes a bit difficult to read.
The Hargrett Library Rare Map Collection (Civil War) This Web site features very specialized period maps, including various Civil War battle maps, including the Gettysburg Campaign, the action at Manassas (Bull Run), and Sherman’s March through Georgia. However, the collection "heavily emphasizes the state of Georgia and the surrounding region." The maps may be printed for educational purposes. Those interested in a more general Civil War search can click onto convenient links provided at this Web site.
Lincoln’s Papers: Mr. Lincoln’s Virtual Library As an excellent example of the collections found at the Library of Congress site, (see above), this site features two collections that shed light on the life of Abraham Lincoln. One is The Abraham Lincoln Papers, containing 20,000 documents, most acquired during Lincoln’s presidency. The second is from the "We’ll Sing To Abe Our Song" collection, including more than 200 sheet-music compositions that feature Lincoln and the war as reflected in popular music. Both collections can be accessed at this web address.
Selected Civil War Photographs (from the Library of Congress) Featuring the Print and Photography Section of the Library of Congress, this site offers a rich compendium of photographs, including the works of Matthew Brady and Alexander Gardiner. Bibliographic information, along with any copyright or publishing restrictions, is provided for each photo. Collection contents can be easily accessed through a subject index, and printer copies would enhance both teachers’ lessons or students’ projects. Excellent quality photographic prints can be ordered from the Library of Congress, though there is a charge, and delivery takes up to six weeks.
The United States Civil War Center (Louisiana State University) This site acts as an "information clearinghouse" for topics related to the Civil War. It includes special projects developed on a yearly basis, such as "Louisiana Soldiers Database," or a "Collection of Children’s Books about the Civil War." The index includes a huge range of subjects from diplomacy and foreign involvement in the Civil War, battle casualties, civil war memorials, monuments, and parks, even topics of special interest such as boxing and/or tobacco use in the Civil War." The site features a collection of founding documents for both the USA and CSA, including the U.S. and Confederate Constitutions, and the "Official Documents of the War of the Rebellion."
http://www.civilwar.org/battlefields/
Navy History Info Information if you are researching a battle at sea like Hampton Roads
http://www.nps.gov/hps/abpp/battles/bycampgn.htm
Library of Congress US Civil War Reading Room Great resources on the Civil War from the Library of Congress
Virginia Military Institute Civil War Resources Collection of online resources from VMI
The American Civil War The site contains balanced, substantive coverage of the Civil War, including its causes, famous battles, and leaders. Great place to find the basics.
The American Civil War Homepage Created by the University of Tennessee.
This Web site provides a link to excellent primary materials, including documentary records from the Congressional Globe featuring the proceedings of the U.S. Congress from 1833-73. A subject index makes it easy to access a whole range of issues that were the subject of either Senate or House debates in both the pre and post Civil War period. The documents are reproductions of the actual pages, so the reading may be slow going. This site also has a rich Civil War music section, providing the lyrics to many popular tunes of that period, along with various other primary sources—letters, regimental histories, and biographies. One section allows the user to access documentary information by state, which would be useful for teachers or students with a regional interest.
The Civil War at the Smithsonian Produced by the National Portrait Gallery, this site has an extensive image collection of Civil War artifacts. With background information included, the visitor can find anything from Abraham Lincoln’s beaver top hat to examples of uniforms and weapons, or even Confederate postage stamps. Featured also is an impressive array of portraiture, sculptures, and photographs.
Civil War Treasures(From the New York Historical Society) The images of this digital collection are from the New York Historical Society’s archive of the Civil War. It includes recruiting posters, stereographic views, photography showing the war’s impact on both sides, and drawings and writings by everyday soldiers. The Civil War recruiting poster collection, which provides such a flavor of this Civil War communications medium, is well worth the visit to this site by teachers and students alike. The soldier’s letters are photographic with no accompanying typed text, so while very authentic, they are sometimes a bit difficult to read.
The Hargrett Library Rare Map Collection (Civil War) This Web site features very specialized period maps, including various Civil War battle maps, including the Gettysburg Campaign, the action at Manassas (Bull Run), and Sherman’s March through Georgia. However, the collection "heavily emphasizes the state of Georgia and the surrounding region." The maps may be printed for educational purposes. Those interested in a more general Civil War search can click onto convenient links provided at this Web site.
Lincoln’s Papers: Mr. Lincoln’s Virtual Library As an excellent example of the collections found at the Library of Congress site, (see above), this site features two collections that shed light on the life of Abraham Lincoln. One is The Abraham Lincoln Papers, containing 20,000 documents, most acquired during Lincoln’s presidency. The second is from the "We’ll Sing To Abe Our Song" collection, including more than 200 sheet-music compositions that feature Lincoln and the war as reflected in popular music. Both collections can be accessed at this web address.
Selected Civil War Photographs (from the Library of Congress) Featuring the Print and Photography Section of the Library of Congress, this site offers a rich compendium of photographs, including the works of Matthew Brady and Alexander Gardiner. Bibliographic information, along with any copyright or publishing restrictions, is provided for each photo. Collection contents can be easily accessed through a subject index, and printer copies would enhance both teachers’ lessons or students’ projects. Excellent quality photographic prints can be ordered from the Library of Congress, though there is a charge, and delivery takes up to six weeks.
The United States Civil War Center (Louisiana State University) This site acts as an "information clearinghouse" for topics related to the Civil War. It includes special projects developed on a yearly basis, such as "Louisiana Soldiers Database," or a "Collection of Children’s Books about the Civil War." The index includes a huge range of subjects from diplomacy and foreign involvement in the Civil War, battle casualties, civil war memorials, monuments, and parks, even topics of special interest such as boxing and/or tobacco use in the Civil War." The site features a collection of founding documents for both the USA and CSA, including the U.S. and Confederate Constitutions, and the "Official Documents of the War of the Rebellion."